2026 STRIKE A CHORD
2025 Strike A Chord winners The IncrediBows. Credit James Grant
MUSICA VIVA AUSTRALIA PRESENTS STRIKE A CHORD 2026
STRIKE A CHORD 2026, Australia’s national chamber music program for school-age performers, has received transformational funding of $300,000 from the Hansen Little Foundation. Strike A Chord was funded by Creative Victoria from 2020-2025, however Creative Victoria funding was discontinued for 2026, and support from Hansen Little Foundation has secured the program's 2026 delivery.
Strike A Chord, which was established by Musica Viva Australia in 2020, is centred on a national competition, with coaching sessions, workshops and opportunities for players of every level. It celebrates the joy of making music with friends while building real performance skills.
‘Music is a wonderful and joyful lifelong journey, and Strike A Chord is an initiative which nurtures participation at the earliest stages offering support and opportunities,’ said Jane Hansen, chair of the Hansen Little Foundation. ‘The standard and commitment of the young musicians who participate in Strike A Chord is consistently inspiring, and I am excited to see what they achieve in 2026.’
In the coming months, school-age students will form ensembles to take part in either the Foundation section (up to AMEB Grade IV) or the Championship section (AMEB Grade V and above), competing for a prize pool of cash and in-kind opportunities worth more than $50,000. Students of all ages and abilities are invited to apply for free, in-person coaching from chamber music experts to help prepare their first-round video entries.
‘This generous donation enables us to reach beyond well-resourced schools and metro areas, to offer hands-on support, including one-on-one coaching, workshops and feedback, to school-aged students all over Australia,’ says Wilma Smith, Artistic Director Competitions, Musica Viva Australia. ‘It’s no exaggeration to say that, for many participants, the experience will be life-changing.’
Results of the first round will be announced in June, including the twelve Championship Section ensembles selected to perform live at the National Final in August, which will also be live-streamed.
Although the competition is only 5 years old, over 3000 students have taken part, and alumni already make an impact on the wider music community. For example, since her win as leader of the Cousin Quartet in 2020, violinist Beatrice Colombis has appeared as an emerging artist with the Australian Chamber Orchestra and is now studying at the Hanns Eisler music academy in Berlin. In 2025, she returned to Strike A Chord as a tutor for a young string quartet in Coffs Harbour, and in May this year she will compete as a finalist in the Michael Hill International Violin Competition.
‘Strike A Chord was the first serious quartet-playing I ever did, and it sparked a love for quartet-playing for me,’ says Beatrice. ‘There’s nothing like it for building friendships, confidence and lifelong skills in music and communication.’
More details are available now on Musica Viva Australia’s website.
2026 KEY DATES
Coaching Program and Monash Strike A Chord Workshop
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23 Feb: Applications open
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6 Mar: Monash Strike A Chord Workshop applications close
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20 Mar: Coaching Program applications close
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11 – 12 Apr: Monash Strike A Chord Workshop
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20 Apr – 15 May: Coaching Program
Competition: Championship Section and Foundation Section
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1 May: Entries open
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28 May: Entries close
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24 Jun: Championship Section Finalists and Foundation Section Winners announced
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29 Aug: National Final
For further information, images or interviews:
KABUKU PUBLIC RELATIONS
Marygrace Lardizabal | marygrace@kabukupr.com.au | 0479 081 960
Natasha Vickery | natasha@kabukupr.com.au | 0424 193 553
Quartet Alla Zingarese at the Strike A Chord National Final 2025. Credit James Grant
The Coaching Program at Seymour Chamber Strings.
Monash Strike A Chord Workshop. Credit Matthew Chen.